Tribes leave $7.2 billion impact on economy in Oklahoma thanks to Indian gaming

Oklahoma is home to more Indian gaming facilities than any other state and the industry shows no signs of slowing down.

According to the Oklahoma Indian Gaming Association, tribal gaming left a $7.2 billion impact on the state's economy in fiscal year 2016. The organization's leader told KWGS that the figure is likely to reach $10 billion for the current year.

"A report just came out that gaming growth in Oklahoma is up almost 5 percent last year, so it'd be reasonable to say we're an almost $10 billion economic impact for Oklahoma in 2016," Chair David Qualls, who is a citizen of the Peoria Tribe, told KWGS.

Oklahoma is home to 131 tribal facilities, the most of any state. The region has continued to experience growth, according to data released by the National Indian Gaming Commission, a
federal agency

Gross gaming revenues
in 2016 by region. Source: National
Indian Gaming CommissionRevenues in the Oklahoma City
region, for example, increased 5.7 percent in 2016. In the Tulsa region,
revenues grew 4.0 percent.

In Oklahoma City region, which also includes facilities in Texas, gross
gaming revenues were $2.3 billion. In the Tulsa region, which includes casinos
in Kansas, revenues hit $2.3 billion.

“The success reflected in the 2016 gross gaming revenue is due, at least
in part, to the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act’s promotion of tribal
self-determination principles,” Chairman Jonodev O. Chaudhuri. of the NIGC said
in a press
release. Overall, tribal casinos took in $31.2 billion, an increase of 4.4
percent.